Halloween

Good evening witches, warlocks and werewolves and happy Halloween!!!

Sorry did I say Halloween?? What I meant was THE BEST DAY OF THE YEAR. Okay, maybe I love Halloween a bit too much but it seriously is the best. Possibly it's due to my obsession with witches and magically mythical creatures or maybe it's my love of scary movies, unlimited sweets to munch and pumpkin carving but it will always be my favourite. Anyway, today I should have been doing art homework (I did do some....*shifty eyes*) but how could I waste such a brilliant day on homework when there was important pumpkin carving and Halloweeny baking to do?!?! So instead of art I carved both sides of my pumpkin and made a pumpkin pie, well pumpkin and 'seasonal squash' pie as I couldn't find anymore pumpkins in Tesco and so had to settle for a substitute. Nevertheless the pumpkin & other squash pie turned out quite yummy and it's really starting to feel like Autumn yay! Autumn is THE best season and we all know it. Oh also I should mention that I did a trade on Etsy! Sophie, the owner of the adorably cool shop 'Crafty Darling' on Etsy, contacted me and asked if I'd be up to  trading an item from my shop for an item from hers and I'm so glad I agreed because the necklace I received from her is so cool and I love it. I traded my Lydia Deetz strange and unusual patch, my too sassy for you patch and my bittersweet love heart stickers from my shop. I really look froward to doing more trades in the future because there really isn't anything that's as equally exciting as waiting for a cool gift to appear in the post! Oh also also alsooooo,  I watched Ghost World for the first time last night and well just wOW! Such a cool film, I think Enid Coleslaw is my spirit animal?? I think the best parts were the music and the shops in the movie though, the music exposed me to 30s blues and it's really quite something! Stay tuned for Ghost World inspired items in the shop!!! I hope you're all enjoying your Halloween and join me in watching some rad Halloween films and stuffing your face with sweets (screw cavities, tonight we are invincible!).

*read in imitation of a ghost voice* SoOoOo LoOoOoOong BlOoOogEeEeEersssssss,

Cat. X

My pentagram pumpkin!

Pumpkin pie

My necklace, grab yourself one of these babies at craftydarlingdetroit.etsy.com

Docs & Diners

Outfit of The Day: Lavenderlies Feminist Cropped T-shirt

Good evening fellow earthlings,

Today I wore one of my handmade feminist t-shirts!! I've been a bit weary about whether people will still want a cropped t-shirt now that winter's on its way, so I tried to style it for the winter and thought I'd share it! I wore it with my favourite pair of Topshop high waisted jeans, my cherry red docs and my favourite coat. And good news! The feminist top is just as perfect for winter as it was for summer!! You can grab yours at lavenderlies.etsy.com =^.^=

Stay tuned,

Cat. X

Coming Soon to Lavenderlies

Aloha bloggers just a quick shop update to give you radical people an idea of what's coming soon to 'lavenderlies'. Exciting stuff, hope you're all happy as can be. C yaaaaaa,

Cat. X

Did somebody say wild teen?

So it's Saturday night and I'm a month away from my 16th birthday......which can only mean one thing.......PARTY!!!! 

lol no. I got you though right??? Of course I did. Ok I'm fooling nobody I know. (;__;)

Take 2: it's Saturday night and here I am sat in bed in my pyjamas and a woolly jumper, watching The Vampire Diaries and nursing a box of tissues. Ugh,  my head hurts, my nose hurts...is this what death feels like? There's a million things I should be doing right now: art coursework, maths exam revision, making new products for the shop...need I go on? But anyway all I want to do is lay here and drink tea and watch teen dramas so that's about as wild as my Saturday night is going to get. I'm such a tragic excuse for a teenager. Oh I hope this illness or whatever goes away soon, I hope you're all splendid and not suffering the dreaded Autumn cold.

I'm going to eat some cake and procrastinate I suggest you do the same,

Cat. X

Topic of The Week: Hairy Legged Man Haters

We believe whatever 'our husbands believe' when it comes to politics, we care far too much about health and education (as opposed to the economy)  and after all our strives for equality, we still don't get the same treatment as men. Gee, will we ever catch a break? Throughout the years women have fought tooth and nail to be equal to our male counterparts but after all this time, have we really succeeded?

Until the late 1840s women had to put up with a lot of discrimination regarding our rights. Women were made to stay at home, clean, cook and take care of their children while men went out and did all the heavy manual labor, to then be waited on by their doting wives when they arrived home. However by 1848 we had had enough of this stereotypical hoo-ha and fellow feminists Elizabeth Stanton and Lucretia Molt began the fight for women's rights, resulting in women's suffrage being achieved in the US (and many more countries like here in Britain) by the 19th century.

 Of course, many men were not too happy about their inferior wives having a voice of their own and even today will only know the term 'feminist' as a synonym for 'hairy legged man hater' which begs is to question if equal rights have really been achieved after all.

A point often raised in the argument that women and men are in fact, still not equal is the difference in wages. Recent studies have shown that female graduates earn thousands of pounds less than their male counterparts, despite having the same qualifications. The researchers for the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) analysed this in more detail, comparing the difference in male and female graduates' earnings. Jane Artess, a HECSU researcher, reported that pay distribution was 'strikingly uneven' and the study showed that the pay rate for female graduates ranged between £15,000 and £23,000 whereas men's pay rates were mainly £24,000+. Which helps prove that there is still not complete equality between the genders, despite the laws that have been passed.

Not only do women have to accept lower wages than men but they also manage to juggle looking after a family and their home life as well as a full time job. Of course, this obviously isn't the case for every single full time working female but as stereotypical as it is, women do seem to do most of the juggling between their home and professional life, as opposed to their male counterparts. From going from being in a traditional family with two parents to then living with just a single mother I have witnessed this. I can understand that there are also single fathers out there but when you have seen and admired a mother juggling everything from a full time job, teenage daughters and omnipresent bills, you really can't question that working mothers have it tougher.

Despite the fact that women and men are still not entirely equal, I do think that women are so much better off now than they were in the 1840s, we may still have lower wages but at least women now actually have the right to work!! The stereotypical expectations may not still be so high and the constant 'women belong in the kitchen' stereotype is always going to be there, but personally, I think that's a good enough compromise. I can put up with the occasional stereotypical jab at womanhood every now and again as long as I get to keep my right to vote and independently earn my own money when I'm old enough. And I'm sure a woman from the 1840s would trade their life for mine any day.

Don't let the sexists get you down,

Cat. X

Goosebumps and Heartbeats

Bonjour blogger folk!

I haven't posted anything properly for a while now and today I just feel I don't know..inspired??? I guess??? Inspired by my all time favourite band, Mumford & Sons. 

Basically I live, love and breathe Mumford & Sons. Whenever I listen to their music I just completely relax, I get goosebumps and I feel, as Charlie from Perks would say, infinite. I don't know it's just so impossible to put into words. When I listen to their songs, at first I feel anticipation, then relaxation and then when the banjo joins in and the guitar speeds up, my heart starts to hammer against my chest and that's when the goosebumps appear, my hairs stand on end, I close my eyes and just feel like nobody in this World could love them, could love anybody as much  as I love Mumford & Sons. I feel like nobody could feel as happy as I do in that moment. I mean to others, it's just a folk-rock song but to me it's so much more. As soon as I hear the intro to any song, whether it's from Sigh No More or Babel, I'm taken back to December 13th 2012, when I saw them live. I remember the silent trance of  bemusement I stayed in for the entire gig, I didn't dance, I didn't do anything but stare in wonder. Like, they were there, in the same room as me and all I could think of was how nothing could ever beat this moment. 

Seriously, nothing has beaten that moment yet. And I don't think anything ever could.

So yeah listen to my favourite song on Babel, fall in love with them like I did & thank me later.

Cat. X

Hopeless Wanderer - Mumford & Sons from Babel

((oh P.S. I'm going to start doing like 'themed' posts, a bit like a magazine column, I'll try to do a different topic once or twice a week it should be fun, cool. bye))

Friday Night Catch-Up

Ok so I'm supposed to be writing an essay right now but I'm doing this instead WOW  DEDICATION OR WHAT???? (or is it procrastination??? I don't know) I mean it's not like I need an English GCSE anyway psht. So basically I haven't posted anything in like forever because well I've been to France and had so much homework I feel like I could be experiencing the symptoms of a mid-teen crisis.
On the plus side my Etsy shop is going really well at the moment!!! I designed and hand drew my latest patches (you can check them out here) and they seem to be pretty popular so yeah I'm happy, I love writing little letters to customers to go with their orders, I don't know I just feel so happy knowing that someone on the other side of the world is wearing something I made, reading a letter that I wrote them, it's just..nice and really rewarding making people happy because who DOESN'T love getting mail, am I right or am I right???
What now...oh yes France!!! I went to Paris 2 weeks ago today and it was honestly so amazing, amazing people, amazing sights, amazing laughs, just everything, I just want to go back! I'll upload some photos tomorrow (if I remember).
Everything is just going so well right now, I hope life's good for you lot too.
Over and out.

Cat.

X

'Oz The Great And Powerful'(???)

This is literally my favourite thing ever right now, literally while watching Oz this is all I was thinking. Thankyou Taylor-Ruth.

P.S. sorry I haven't posted in aaaaaaaaages but... I have no plausible excuse, I'm just lazy.

(Not So)Pretty In Pink

Welsh Oral Exam - check
Art Homework      - check
Time to blog         - check
Something interesting to blog about - what's the opposite of check???


My life has been so unexciting lately I've literally had nothing to blog about, how very sad.
Anyway let's get down to this so called blogging business. I HAD TO DO A WELSH ORAL THE OTHER DAY. IN WELSH. FOR 5 WHOLE MINUTES. IN WELSH. and did I mention it was IN WELSH??? I almost had a breakdown, oh gosh. 
My teachers keep calling me Caitlin. MY NAME IS NOT BLOODY CAITLIN.
But on the positive side of things I've also made my first two Etsy sales!!!!! *celebratory jig of joy* I'm so so so happy that people actually want to buy things that I've made yay! 
Also, today in Art I found out that other people have actually gathered how much I lack confidence, like I didn't even know I was that unconfident (??? is that even a word???) but apparently it's pretty obvious, oh please lord let me have confidence, I thought my confidence had grown slightly, how could I be so wrong?

Extremely awkward.

Lacks confidence. A LOT.

A crap personality.

And a face to match.

This calls for a Teen Witch quote.

I'M OFF TO GO WATCH PRETTY IN PINK. PEACE OUT.

CatzZzZzZz

X

*impatiently waiting for something slightly less boring to happen in my life for me to blog about*

LIFE UPDATE

School sucks.
Essays suck.
Art homework sucks.
WELSH ORAL EXAMS SUCK.
A wedge has been driven between my bed and I.
Is this what a mid-teen crisis feels like?

Bits, Bobs and Thrift Shops

I'm  going to Paris next month and have been shopping for clothes to take today.
It was a successful shop if I say so myself ahhh, I bought two dresses and a burgundy jumper. I'm in love with both dresses and the jumper is so pretty, I mean I already have like a billion burgundy clothes but come on, a girl can never have too many burgundy clothes am I right or am I right??? I'm totally right. So anyway the cream dress is from H&M, the navy dress is from this super cool vintage shop in Cardiff called Hobos and the jumper is from Topshop. I love the navy dress because it's so witch-slash-Wednesday-Addams-like and the collar and cuffs are so pretty. There was THE most perfect tan faux fur coat in Hobos but it was way too big for me, damn my girlish shoulders. I also introduced my sister to vintage thrifting, she has never been in a vintage shop like EVER. Poor girl.

Farewell Internet Folk

X

P.S. Here are some photos from today. :)

                      

There Ain't No Rest For The Awkward

Holler @ U ma blogger people. I had my hair cut today!!!!! How exciting!!!! (it actually is, I haven't had it cut in like 6 months) I've been like...scared to get my long hair chopped but you know I needed something uh... fresh, you know?
Anyway the point is, as the title suggests, the hairdressers is actually THE MOST AWKWARD PLACE EVER for an extremely awkward person like me. Seriously. I mean I do love having my hair done but as soon as the hairdresser starts to make small talk it's like WHY DID YOU HAVE TO RUIN IT??? Maybe it works for all the other customers who could talk 25/8 about nothing in particular but me, well uh I'm..me which means that conversations with strangers usually consist of one word answers on my part before the conversation dies a slow, painful death. I mean it got so awkward during the washing of my hair that the poor soul of a hairdresser resorted to saying 'wow your hair is really long isn't it?' yes well um that's the whole reason why I'm here, to get it cut? you know?

Ugh life is just so TOUGH when you're awkward.

Sincerely Yours,

The Breakfast Club

Okay got carried away,

It's just me,

Catrin,

Toodloo

X

Lavender Lies

Also pleaaaaaaaaaaaaase check out my Etsy, I want to make my first sale!!!

New Page

Check out my new page for 'Writing and Ramblings' :)

A Playlist For The Independent Mind

Click to listen to these perfect songs.

• Keep You - Wild Belle
• Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac
• Open Season - High Highs
• Rhiannon - Fleetwood Mac
• Rome - Yeasayer
• Punching In A Dream - The Naked and Famous
• Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush
• Young Blood - The Naked and Famous
• Linger - The Cranberries

Keep You by Wild Belle is my favourite song right now, it's just so chilled.

Don't Go Break(eat)ing My Heart

Happy Valentine's Day to all you fellow members of the ♡ Lonely Hearts Club ♡ okay that was cheesy but oh well  there's nothing wrong with a bit of mature cheddar... Anyway moving on to the point of this post. I hope you have all been spreading the love and have received a present, like I have (FREE CHOCOLATE AND IT HAD STRAWBERRIES IN IT MmMmMmM) in the spirit of St. Valentine. It was from my mum if you were wondering. There is no need to baffle yourselves over who on earth would give me something on Valentine's Day as I've just answered your silent question. At least my mum loves me. 

So it turns out there is a positive to Valentine's Day, food. As with every holiday / celebration, there is always food to make it better. And you know what is even better??? This means that there will be loads of unwanted Valentines chocolate on sale in Thornton's mhm this will be the highlight of the year for me.

Sorry for wasting your precious time

Who am I kidding? You're part of the Lonely Hearts Club, you have loads of time to spare!

Take 2:

You're so so welcome for this mind blowing blog post,

I mean I really don't mind, you know blowing your mind with my amazing wit and coolness,

I love you all

(except you, oh no, I DESPISE you)

X

Pancake Day

Happy Pancake Day!!!! Pancake Day is actually like one of my favourite days of the year (apart from Christmas and Halloween ofcourse) because you get to eat pancakes all day and honestly, what's better than that?!

Enjoy your pancakes

X

New Etsy Listings

These cool Marina and Harry Potter inspired patches are now up for sale on my Etsy shop, for more details check out lavenderlies!!! :)

London Baby

I left the wonderful country of Wales yesterday and went to London on an art trip!!! I went to the Saatchi Gallery and the Victorian & Albert Museum, they were both so so cool and the pieces in both were just perfect. It sucked coming back to good Ol' Newport though, London is just so pretty and cute and lovely and wah I just want to live in London. Seriously, we saw primary school  children and their uniform was burgundy and mustard, I mean my two favourite colours...THAT SHOULD BE ME (eventhough I'm not in primary school anymore but whatever).  But on the bright side my sadness for leaving London didn't last too long, and I kind of  had a sugar rush on the bus ride home, which lead to a crazy outbreak of sarcastic, overenthusiastic dancing (raving) to this really crappy heavy metal radio station which the bus driver had tuned in to. My friend Louise, joined in too when I burst out into song (god knows how I knew the words when I had never heard the songs before) (I'm lying it's my favourite station and I always tune in) (I'm joking) (or am I?), so anyway half way through my crazy-dance-sugar-rush-trance Louise had to sort of explain to the shy girl who happened to be sat next to me that I was being sarcastic and didn't ACTUALLY like this kind of music, she just kind of giggled, I don't think she believed us. All in all it was a really fantabulous day and I just want to go back to London now, withdrawal symptoms and all that, I kind of feel like I did the day after I saw Mumford & Sons live, almost. 

Well that's all for now folks,

Internet hugs to you all,

Catrin :)

p.s. check my instagram for a couple pictures of my favourite pieces from yesterday!

I saw this on Tumblr and just had to have it on my blog.

Tumblr

I've neglected my tumblr for so long that it's such a relief to have it tidy and up to scratch again.

lavenderlies on Etsy

I'd super duper appreciate it if you could check out my Etsy shop: lavenderlies 

Please please please! I can't wait to make my first sale and add new stock!

A Day In The Life of a Complete Nutter

So today I realised that I'm like really weird and yes tell me something I don't know but hey-ho I shall proceed to tell you how in note form:

1. I told two (in my opinion) hilarious jokes and burst out into laughter before I had even finished saying them.
2. I walked (practically danced) the dog around the park whilst listening to Vampire Weekend which, obviously  made me really happy and so I was kind of jumping and prancing around not caring about any onlookers. 
3. I let the cats go for a run around in the garden and I went out to check on them but instead found myself holding one of the cats in the air and singing my heart out to Two Door Cinema Club while running from one end of the garden to the other.
4. And finally, instead of vacuuming, I spent 90% of the time running, jumping, dancing and singing enthusiastically to my iTunes library and now I'm really worn out and tired.

The other day I also got extremely overexcited just because I went on a swing for the first time in ages.

I'm such a child.

And that folks, is why I'm single with no social life.

Tune in next time for more on my extremely weird, awfully boring but spontaneous life.

So Long. X

Wild Friday Night

Last night I was supposed to be going to a house party but instead decided to stay home, eat pizza and watch Teen Witch, which might I add was FREE on YouTube. Life's good when you're a loser with amazing taste in films. I don't even regret this decision, 80s movies take priority over everything. 

I'm selling this pork pie hat on my Etsy shop, I've renewed it with a cool vintage scarf and cute handmade bow. I'd love to have my first customer soon! Check it out at:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/120001971/vintage-renewed-straw-pork-pie-hat

My views towards Valentine's Day next month.

Polyvore

I'm so obsessed with Polyvore right now! This is just one of my sets so far. :-)